Court Reporter Salary in California: $125,771 (2026)
Quick Answer:Across California's 156 metropolitan areas, the average median court reporter pay sits at $125,771/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 27-3092. Because California sits at BEA RPP 113.1 (13% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $111,203 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Sunnyvale ($146,532), Santa Clara ($145,570), San Jose ($143,170).
In 2026, the average median salary for court reporters in California is projected to be $125,772, which shows a significant 68.2% increase compared to the national median of $74,788. The disparity in salaries across various cities in California is noteworthy; the highest-paying city is Sunnyvale with a projected salary of $151,324, while Los Angeles is the lowest with $89,339. This gap of $61,985 is influenced by factors such as the cost of living, demand for court reporters in specific regions, and local legal markets. California has specific licensing requirements and scope of practice laws that can also impact salaries. The state's growing population and increasing legal proceedings contribute to a steady demand for court reporters. With a projected annual growth rate of 3.27%, there are currently around 4,505 court reporters employed in the state. Top cities for employment include Sunnyvale, Santa Clara at $150,330, San Jose at $147,852, Stockton at $142,864, and Lodi at $140,892. As legal processes evolve and technology integrates into the courtroom, the job market for court reporters in California is positioned for continued stability and growth.
California Court Reporter Salary Range
Overall salary range in California: $42,785 (lowest entry-level) to $234,552 (highest top earner)
California vs National Average
California court reporters earn 68.17% more than the national median (+$50,983/year difference).
California Court Reporter Salary Distribution (2026)
Court Reporter salaries in California range from $72,329 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $182,305 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $125,771. The California median is $50,983 above the US national median of $74,788. The average hourly rate is $60.47/hr. Approximately 4,505 court reporters are employed across 156 cities.
2019 BLS Actual
$92,885
2025 BLS Actual
$121,789
2026 Current Est.
$125,771
2019–2027 Growth
+39.8%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in California (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $92,885 | Actual |
| 2020 | $93,022 | Actual |
| 2021 | $89,583 | Actual |
| 2022 | $104,863 | Actual |
| 2023 | $102,313 | Actual |
| 2024 | $104,415 | Actual |
| 2025 | $121,789 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $125,771 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $129,884 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the California metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 31.1% from $92,885 (2019) to $121,789 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $129,884 by 2027 — a total increase of $36,999 (39.83%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the California metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.27% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in California
Lowest Paying Cities in California
| City | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $89,339 |
| Long Beach | $89,635 |
| Anaheim | $90,929 |
| Bakersfield | $106,265 |
| Visalia | $112,347 |
Best Value Cities for Court Reporters in California
When adjusted for local cost of living, these California cities offer the most purchasing power for court reporters.
| City | Nominal Salary | CoL Index | Adjusted Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stockton | $142,864 | 105.089 | $135,946 |
| San Jose | $147,852 | 110.423 | $133,896 |
| Sunnyvale | $151,324 | 113.1 | $133,797 |
| Santa Clara | $150,330 | 113.1 | $132,918 |
| Riverside | $138,279 | 106.442 | $129,910 |
Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.
Salary by Experience Level in California
| Experience Level | Estimated Annual |
|---|---|
| Entry Level (0-2 years) | $72,329 |
| Mid Career (3-7 years) | $125,771 |
| Experienced (7+ years) | $182,305 |
Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across California metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
All 156 Cities in California
| # | City | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale | $151,324 |
| 2 | Santa Clara | $150,330 |
| 3 | San Jose | $147,852 |
| 4 | Stockton | $142,864 |
| 5 | Lodi | $140,892 |
| 6 | Ontario | $140,143 |
| 7 | San Bernardino | $138,450 |
| 8 | Riverside | $138,279 |
| 9 | Fresno | $137,226 |
| 10 | Oakland | $136,535 |
| 11 | Santa Ana | $134,836 |
| 12 | Fremont | $133,524 |
| 13 | San Francisco | $133,497 |
| 14 | Fontana | $132,341 |
| 15 | Irvine | $132,196 |
| 16 | Pomona | $131,550 |
| 17 | Simi Valley | $131,478 |
| 18 | Escondido | $131,447 |
| 19 | Fairfield | $131,211 |
| 20 | Fullerton | $130,727 |
| 21 | Daly City | $130,615 |
| 22 | El Monte | $130,574 |
| 23 | Vista | $130,501 |
| 24 | Concord | $130,470 |
| 25 | Clovis | $130,275 |
| 26 | Garden Grove | $130,142 |
| 27 | Temecula | $130,111 |
| 28 | Santa Clarita | $130,023 |
| 29 | Lancaster | $129,854 |
| 30 | Inglewood | $129,854 |
| 31 | Corona | $129,689 |
| 32 | Richmond | $129,669 |
| 33 | Rialto | $129,607 |
| 34 | Torrance | $129,442 |
| 35 | Salinas | $129,298 |
| 36 | Elk Grove | $129,196 |
| 37 | Oceanside | $129,165 |
| 38 | Whittier | $129,127 |
| 39 | San Rafael | $129,116 |
| 40 | Modesto | $129,059 |
| 41 | Rancho Cucamonga | $129,000 |
| 42 | Hayward | $128,928 |
| 43 | Woodland | $128,894 |
| 44 | Buena Park | $128,875 |
| 45 | Encinitas | $128,864 |
| 46 | Downey | $128,856 |
| 47 | Dublin | $128,784 |
| 48 | Redlands | $128,744 |
| 49 | Chino | $128,673 |
| 50 | Westminster | $128,633 |
| 51 | Santa Monica | $128,623 |
| 52 | San Mateo | $128,609 |
| 53 | Tulare | $128,572 |
| 54 | San Buenaventura | $128,527 |
| 55 | Mission Viejo | $128,441 |
| 56 | Moreno Valley | $128,440 |
| 57 | Pleasanton | $128,421 |
| 58 | Pasadena | $128,240 |
| 59 | Santee | $128,149 |
| 60 | Glendale | $128,033 |
| 61 | Thousand Oaks | $128,012 |
| 62 | Mountain View | $127,968 |
| 63 | Pittsburg | $127,958 |
| 64 | Novato | $127,917 |
| 65 | Costa Mesa | $127,869 |
| 66 | Berkeley | $127,736 |
| 67 | Huntington Beach | $127,705 |
| 68 | Jurupa Valley | $127,591 |
| 69 | Hemet | $127,554 |
| 70 | Union City | $127,545 |
| 71 | West Covina | $127,529 |
| 72 | Chino Hills | $127,494 |
| 73 | Chula Vista | $127,407 |
| 74 | Chico | $127,324 |
| 75 | Gilroy | $127,312 |
| 76 | Santa Maria | $127,273 |
| 77 | Santa Cruz | $127,272 |
| 78 | San Diego | $127,260 |
| 79 | San Marcos | $127,242 |
| 80 | Tustin | $127,131 |
| 81 | San Ramon | $127,121 |
| 82 | Eastvale | $127,000 |
| 83 | Murrieta | $126,995 |
| 84 | Vacaville | $126,995 |
| 85 | Brentwood | $126,939 |
| 86 | Hesperia | $126,879 |
| 87 | Lake Elsinore | $126,869 |
| 88 | Citrus Heights | $126,708 |
| 89 | El Cajon | $126,594 |
| 90 | San Clemente | $126,556 |
| 91 | Bellflower | $126,506 |
| 92 | Palmdale | $126,450 |
| 93 | La Mirada | $126,449 |
| 94 | Apple Valley | $126,425 |
| 95 | Menifee | $126,388 |
| 96 | Yucaipa | $126,334 |
| 97 | Norwalk | $126,327 |
| 98 | Yuba City | $126,274 |
| 99 | Rancho Cordova | $126,213 |
| 100 | Carlsbad | $126,196 |
| 101 | Montebello | $126,093 |
| 102 | Compton | $126,042 |
| 103 | Vallejo | $125,967 |
| 104 | Porterville | $125,952 |
| 105 | Lompoc | $125,936 |
| 106 | Hawthorne | $125,741 |
| 107 | Antioch | $125,699 |
| 108 | Burbank | $125,689 |
| 109 | Santa Rosa | $125,535 |
| 110 | Redding | $125,489 |
| 111 | Napa | $125,458 |
| 112 | Alhambra | $125,398 |
| 113 | Livermore | $125,398 |
| 114 | Orange | $125,360 |
| 115 | South Gate | $125,357 |
| 116 | Victorville | $125,330 |
| 117 | West Sacramento | $125,286 |
| 118 | Poway | $125,254 |
| 119 | San Leandro | $125,085 |
| 120 | Indio | $124,944 |
| 121 | Lake Forest | $124,944 |
| 122 | Petaluma | $124,782 |
| 123 | Carson | $124,722 |
| 124 | Rocklin | $124,702 |
| 125 | Newport Beach | $124,490 |
| 126 | Redwood City | $124,481 |
| 127 | Turlock | $124,450 |
| 128 | Manteca | $124,409 |
| 129 | Perris | $124,400 |
| 130 | Madera | $124,299 |
| 131 | Baldwin Park | $124,077 |
| 132 | Palo Alto | $124,077 |
| 133 | Lakewood | $124,026 |
| 134 | San Luis Obispo | $124,010 |
| 135 | Hanford | $123,774 |
| 136 | Beaumont | $123,664 |
| 137 | Merced | $123,644 |
| 138 | Tracy | $123,634 |
| 139 | Alameda | $123,594 |
| 140 | Laguna Niguel | $123,563 |
| 141 | Milpitas | $123,503 |
| 142 | Camarillo | $123,240 |
| 143 | Oakley | $123,190 |
| 144 | Davis | $123,160 |
| 145 | Upland | $123,069 |
| 146 | Folsom | $122,890 |
| 147 | La Habra | $122,888 |
| 148 | Lynwood | $122,838 |
| 149 | Sacramento | $122,065 |
| 150 | Roseville | $121,562 |
| 151 | Brea | $120,741 |
| 152 | Visalia | $112,347 |
| 153 | Bakersfield | $106,265 |
| 154 | Anaheim | $90,929 |
| 155 | Long Beach | $89,635 |
| 156 | Los Angeles | $89,339 |
More California Salary Data
Hourly Rates
Explore court reporter hourly pay in California cities.
Senior / Experienced
Top earner salaries for experienced court reporters.
Compare Cities in California
View all comparisons →Explore More Court Reporter Salary Data
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Maria Gomez, RPR
Career Analyst
Maria Gomez has 10 years of experience in court reporting. She specializes in transcription for civil litigation cases. She works in various courtrooms across the state.
Methodology & Data Source
Statewide salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 3.27% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 court reporter compensation across California. State averages are employment-weighted across 156 metro areas — larger metro areas with more court reporterscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.27%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for court reporters (SOC 27-3092).
Compiled and verified by Maria Gomez, RPR, a licensed court reporter with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov